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Mark of the Beast
Rudyard Kipling's Mark of the Beast
USA 2012
produced by Sheri Lynn, Chi La Bossiere Kulig (executive), Tim Kulig (executive) for Blood Bath Pictures
directed by Jonathan Gorman, Thomas Edward Seymour
starring Debbie Rochon, Dick Boland, Phil Hall, Sheri Lynn, Ellen Muth, Margaret Rose Champagne, Thomas Edward Seymour, Matt Ford, Mark Bovino, Isaiah Entsua Mensah
screenplay by Sheri Lynn, Thomas Edward Seymour, based on the story by Rudyard Kipling, music by Olen Gabriel, creature design by Leigh Radziwon
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
Always make sure of DVD-compatibility!!!
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Fleete (Phil Hall) is, let's face it, an idiot - so when he after a
party at some cabin in the woods desecrates some altar of a mysterious
cult and is suddenly attacked and injured by a silver leper, even his
friends think he's only gotten what was coming to him. But then Fleete
starts behaving weirdly, as if he was somehow possessed - a situation that
comes to a head when he attacks and wounds one of the other party guests.
All the guests are soon evacuated while host Strickland (Dick Boland), his
wife Sheri (Sheri Lynn) and their best friend Debbie (Debbie Rochon) stay
behind with Fleete - now all tied up - and try to figure out what to do.
Always knowing that the silver leper is still out there and might attack
again. Debbie and Strickland soon come to the conclusion that Fleete
wasn't infected by the leper but cursed, and thus they try to perform an
exorcism on him - that shows muted effect, but doesn't actually work,
because, heck, they are no exorcists and hardly know any appropriate
rites. Ultimately, the two come to the conclusion they have to capture the
leper and force him to lift the curse. But will they catch the leper?
And how will they force/torture him to cooperate? And what marks will it
leave on their conscience? And will there be a happy ending for Fleete? Based
on a short story by Rudyard Kipling (and the story's age deliberately
shows time and again in the movie) - with the plot transplanted from India
to rural USA though -, Mark of the Beast is a truly enjoyable
old-fashioned horror/monster movie, that, not only for budgetary reasons,
limits itself to only a few locations and a handful of characters, and
puts its emphasis on atmosphere and suspense rather than sudden shocks and
excessive violence (thought there's plenty of both in the finale). Add to
this some really interesting characters and a solid ensemble cast, and
you've got yourself something ... pretty good, actually. Recommended.
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